Police appeal for help in identifying four people at pro-Palestine demos who appear to support Hamas
The Met also offers reassurance that it is actively monitoring incidents involving posters depicting kidnapped Israeli babies being torn down.
Richard Ferrer has been editor of Jewish News since 2009. As one of Britain's leading Jewish voices he writes for The Times, Independent, New Statesman and many other titles. Richard previously worked at the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, edited the Boston Jewish Advocate and created the Channel 4 TV series Jewish Mum Of The Year.
Counter terrorism detectives have issued an urgent public appeal to identify four individuals seen at pro-Palestine demonstrations in London who appear to be supporting Hamas.
They also provided reassurance to the Jewish community, saying it is actively monitoring distressing incidents involving posters depicting kidnapped Israeli babies taken by Hamas being defaced and torn down.
Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We are asking the public for help in identifying three women who we would like to speak to urgently.
“The first two women appeared widely on social media footage, wearing images of a paraglider or hang glider attached to backs. They were seen on 14 October in Whitehall.
“We have previously appealed to the public for their support and assistance and are repeating this appeal now. We are also looking for a third female holding a placard with the same image. The crime we are looking into in these cases is a Section 13 offence – wearing an article in such a way or circumstances that it suggests a person is either a member of or supporting a proscribed organisation. The relevance of the hang glider or paraglider image will be apparent and obvious.”
The spokesperson added: “We have one further appeal to identify a man waving a placard that said ‘I fully support Hamas’ during a protest on Bond Street last weekend (21 October). I urge the public to look at these pictures and let us know if they can help identify these three individuals. Any individuals who feel the need to express support for proscribed terrorist organisations will be dealt with swiftly for breaching counter-terrorism legislation.”
Asked by Jewish News for clarity on the widespread tearing down of kidnap posters and whether this could amount to incitement to hatred, the spokesperson said: “I understand this is highly emotive for the Jewish community and others. Each event is looked at by a team of specialists, including detectives, to consider the context in which they happen.
“We are also working alongside the CPS to ensure we get the balance right. When these incidents come to our attention we work tirelessly to try to identify where criminality occurs and, when it does, we will respond robustly and hold those accountable to account.”
CAN YOU HELP IDENTIFY THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS?
Email gov.uk/act or call the counter-terrorism hotline on 0800789321
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